The Swiss national rail freight operator SBB Cargo has won a €65 million defence transportation contract. It was awarded to SBB Cargo directly without a tendering process.
The contract requires SBB Cargo to transport military freight, including fuel and single wagon loads. It also comprises general cargo, tanks, armoured vehicles, trailers and operating materials.
Moreover, it needs to be able to conduct its services using wagons it provides itself and external (specialised military) wagons. Meanwhile, the contract also requires SBB Cargo to supply wagons to Swiss Defence.
Single wagonload operations account for over 60% of the procurement volume. This requires an extensive service network covering a large number of sidings, complex shunting and dispatching operations, and “system leadership” in consolidating individual wagons into trains, the award notice says. Since SBB Cargo is considered the only operator that can provide such services, it was awarded the contract without a tendering process.